Driving through the streets of Brays Oaks, visitors may not know that it was once part of a ranch owned by a founder of one of the world's largest oil companies. The area's transformation from rural ranchland to a bustling urban community is still visible today. Between the neighborhoods and apartment complexes built in the 1970s and 80s lie small pastures and undeveloped patches of decades-old trees, offering people a glimpse into the community's past.
Today, Brays Oaks, once known as Fondren Southwest, has become a hub for working families from all walks of life who have opened shops and restaurants along many of the neighborhood’s main streets, such as South Gessner and West Bellfort. Along with great food from cultures around the world, the neighborhood is home to places of worship and educational centers devoted to a wide array of beliefs ─ from Jewish synagogues to the only Zoroastrian Association of Houston.
One of the many impactful educational centers open to the public sits on the border of Precinct 4. The Eternal Gandhi Museum Houston (EGMH) is a museum dedicated to one of the most famous pacifists in history ─ Mahatma Gandhi.
Gandhi, an Indian lawyer, activist, and political ethicist, was a leader in India’s campaign for independence from England, and his nonviolent methods inspired civil rights movements across the globe, including America’s.
A First for the Nation Located in Harris County
Despite the incredible impact Gandhi’s legacy and teachings had in the United States, until Atul Kothari, one of the founders, opened the Eternal Gandhi Museum Houston in 2023, the United States had no dedicated institution highlighting his contributions.
“When we discovered the current site, it felt like the perfect fit,” said Ajit Paralkar, one of the Trustees for EGMH, about the Brays Oaks location. “Not only does it serve the heart of the community we hoped to engage, but it also offers easy access for people from all over Greater Houston.”
Brays Oaks offered a strong foundation for the museum’s goal of attracting a diverse audience. Bounded by Interstate 69, Beltway 8, Highway 90, and Interstate 610, the neighborhood is only minutes away from Sharpstown, Alief, and Sugar Land ─ communities with growing populations of residents.
“The most surprising thing that we have learned about Brays Oaks community [is] that roughly within [a] 2-mile radius of the museum are other nonprofit organizations, such as India House, Rain Drop Foundation, and GSH Event center,” said Paralkar. “It is quite an international community.”
A Museum Nearly Two Decades in the Making
Kothari was first inspired to open the museum during a 2006 visit he and others made to the Eternal Gandhi Multimedia Museum in New Delhi, India. At the time, it was a state-of-the-art space that showcased Gandhi’s life and defining principles.
“That visit showed us how effectively his timeless legacy of nonviolent conflict resolution could be communicated using modern tools and media,” Paralkar said. “It became clear that we, too, could create a space in Houston to carry Gandhi's message forward, blending history, inspiration, and technology.”
Through interactive exhibits and storytelling, the museum not only explores Gandhi’s journey but also highlights the global impact of his philosophy. Visitors will also find inspiring stories of other peace leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, and the Dalai Lama.
“The most important takeaway for visitors to the museum is the powerful truth that nonviolent conflict resolution is not only possible, but it also works,” Paralkar said. “We hope each visitor leaves inspired to embrace this principle in their own lives, to the best of their ability.”
As the Eternal Gandhi Museum Houston continues to welcome visitors from across the region, its presence in Brays Oaks stands as a powerful symbol of the district’s identity — diverse, inclusive, and forward-looking. In a community where cultures converge and dialogue is encouraged, the museum reinforces Brays Oaks’ role as a hub for cross-cultural engagement and learning.